By Rizwan Rehmat
DOHA: World champion Jorge Lorenzo feels confident into Sunday’s season opener, saying pre-season testing set things in motion for the Yamaha camp.
Lorenzo will be joined by MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi, two-time world champion Marc Maruqez and Honda star Dani Pedrosa among a host of others at the Grand Prix of Qatar which kicks off under lights at Losail International Circuit.
“The pre-season has been very very good, better than we expected,” Lorenzo, who rides for Movistar Yamaha, said yesterday.
“In the three tests we did, we got a good feeling and did some impressive lap times,” Lorenzo, 28, added.
The feisty Spanish rider, however, said radical technical changes for the 2016 season could pave the way for ‘an interesting season’.
“Not a lot of things change from the outside where the people can see the bikes,” Lorenzo said when asked about the changes.
“For the riders, it’s really a big difference. Firstly with the tyres, the Michelins offer a completely different feeling on the bike and also with the new electronics, the same for everyone, are less sophisticated and much more difficult to ride and control, especially with the throttle,” he said.
Lorenzo said he wasn’t sure how the tyres would behave during the opening laps at this week’s race which is to be held under lights.
“In the last five or six years you could start very very fast from the first corner of the first lap, now it’s a little more complicated as we have to understand the limit in the first few laps,” Lorenzo explained at a pre-race press conference yesterday.
“It’s also important the race pace, the physical condition as it looks like it will be a little more demanding in that area,” he added.
Chief rival and the biggest name in racing, Rossi said he is looking forward to competing in what will be his 21st season in bike business.
“This year everything will be very interesting as we have a lot of differences, especially about riding the motorcycle,” Rossi, 37, said.
“We changed things that make a big difference, the tyres are different and also the electronic system is a little more basic. During the winter season we saw a lot of riders who were very close in their performance, looks like more than last year,” Rossi, who missed only three podiums last year, said.
“It means that to arrive at the front you have to work very well during the weekend and arrive strong on Sunday,” the racing giant said.
Repsol Honda Team star Marquez said pre-season testing in Qatar earlier in the month took care of the doubts in his camp.
“This year has not been an easy pre-season looking at the results. But we improved and we kept a constant pace, a progressive line towards the most important and it looks like here in the last test in Qatar we did a huge step and we were closer,” Marquez said yesterday.
“Anyway, we know we struggle on this track because it’s one of the worst tracks for us but the motivation and ambition of the first race can always supply what you need,” the 30-year-old Spaniard added.
Marquez said the true form of riders will only be visible once the MotoGP family is into the second of third race of the season.
“On the test it was amazing how close the times were. I know that in this first race the times will be really close because we did a test here, so everybody already has a good pace and a good setup and it will be nice this first race,” Marquez said.
“Then when we go to Argentina and to Austin we will see more the difference where we are. But we must start well this season,” he added.
Ducati’s Andrea Iannone said his team will be competitive in Qatar this week.
“For sure we’re really strong, but I think everyone else, Dani, Jorge, Maverick, Valentino, every rider in MotoGP is really strong,” Iannone said.
“But for sure we want to improve and we want to go better than 2015 and for sure I think and I want to win my first MotoGP class race. For sure this is my objective and I try my best at this track and from this race onwards,” the 26-year-old added.
Maverick Vinales, who rides for Team Suzuki Ecstar, knows big things are expected in the 2016 season.
“For sure it (topping the Phillip Island Test and ending third at the Qatar Test) was an incredible step for us. It was really important the experience we got last year, this year we could work better and with more concentration and calm,” Vinales, 21, said.
“This was the biggest difference from last year. The bike improved and the engine improved as well. Also about the electronics, they make everything more similar and for us and that’s better and then about the tyres, I think we have a good feeling.
“I feel really good and I think I can be so strong with these tyres. Anyway, it was a test, now it’s a race weekend and we feel motivated, calm and hungry to start the race,” Vinales said.
The Peninsula
